אות - עה

Concerning prayer, Rabbainu o.b.m. told us much. And he warned greatly to compel oneself to pray with great intention, meaning — to bind the thought to the speech with a firm and strong bond, so that one listens carefully, very carefully, to what one is saying in prayer. And this is the essence of prayer with intention. And he did not command to pray with the mystical intentions [kavanos] of the Ari (141) — only with this intention: to listen to what one is saying (142). And I heard from him that it is very good to pray the entire prayer from a siddur — to look into the siddur — and this helps very much for intention in prayer. And once he commanded one of his followers that he should burn a certain manuscript (143), and he commanded him to do this on Shabbos after prayer — for he was in a place far from there. And he was amazed: how can he instruct him to do this on Shabbos? But he sent word to him and commanded him that he should do thus on Shabbos after prayer, and he fulfilled his instruction (144). And concerning prayer he said: the main thing is that one's heart should be directed toward Hashem Yisburach. And even in a case where one prays without any intention at all, only that his heart is turned toward Hashem Yisburach — this is also precious before Him blessed He (145). And regarding this he taught a Torah that is printed in Likutay Moharan Tinyana (146) beginning with the words: "Prayer needs to be new." For there is a certain teaching that is the Foundation of the World, and all the prayers and all the Torah of the world revolve around it (147). 141. RAK: See above 66.

142. RAK: See above 12, 26. Chayai Moharan 590. 143. RAK: When Rabbainu was in Lemberg between Purim and Pesach 5568, he commanded Rabbi Shimon to travel to Breslov to his home, to take a manuscript in Rabbainu's handwriting from the cabinet, and burn it. And so he did. From then on this book was called "The Burned Book." Immediately after Rabbainu's passing, Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Nasan burned several other writings. 144. RAK: See Chayai Moharan section 508. 145. RAK: Likutay Moharan Tinyana 48. See below 120. 147. RAK: Tikun 21. See Likutay Moharan Tinyana 7-10.